Not knowing anything but success is a relatively new phenomenon at Navy. This is a program that as recently as 2001 had a winless season and was 3-30 from 2000-02, capping a period in which only two winning records were produced in 20 years.

But as Ballard pointed out, most of the players on board now have been part of three consecutive bowl teams that have gone 26-11, including a 6-0 mark against Army and Air Force. Those results have brought the academies' Commander-in-Chief's Trophy to the academy on the shores of Chesapeake Bay a school-record three consecutive years.

With 18 starters back from last year's 8-4 team, which won the Poinsettia Bowl, more winning appears to be in the offing.

But fifth-year coach Paul Johnson sounds a warning bell. "Every team is different," he says. "Each team has to develop its own identity."

Having so much experience returning, Johnson says, can be a double-edged sword.

"That can be an advantage if you make it one, but if you become complacent and think you're just going to roll your helmet out there because you played last year, then it's not a good thing.

"I think last year's team (which had lost 16 starters from 2004) was hungry, and maybe they were a little scared. I think it's good to play a little scared. If you're not scared that you can lose, you're probably not going to play real well."

The key for the Mids, as usual, Johnson says, is to "out-execute" their opponents.

Physically unimposing at many positions — "I don't think anybody's going to ooh and aah when we get off the bus," the coach says — Navy has to run its spread option offense with precision and hustle all over the field on defense.

"That's the only way our defense has been good the past couple years, hustling, playing a swarming defense, playing hard, not losing any effort," says senior linebacker Rob Caldwell, whose 140 tackles last year were the most for a Midshipman in 12 years.

Navy will have a new senior starting quarterback for the second consecutive year. Brian Hampton appeared in all 12 games last year as a backup to Lamar Owens after returning kicks early in his career.

"It's an anticipated thing," he says. "I've always wanted to be in this position. Right now, I don't want to put more pressure on myself than there is."

Hampton will have the comfort of playing behind a veteran offensive line. He also will have Ballard, a junior, in the backfield along with junior slotback Reggie Campbell, the 5-6 mighty mite who tied an NCAA postseason record with five touchdowns in the bowl win against Colorado State.

"So far it's been a pretty smooth transition," Hampton says. "Our bonding time is already passed; we had that during the spring. They had to get used to my count and the different things I do, my decision-making style.

"But I think we're pretty comfortable now. I'm feeling really, really comfortable with my line. It's always great to know your guys know exactly where to go and you don't have to worry about them missing something. They already knew their stuff."

The Mids recently reached an agreement with the Meineke Car Care Bowl to play in Charlotte this December if they become bowl-eligible. The schedule features traditional rivals Notre Dame, Army and Air Force, but there are other opponents — such as Massachusetts, Duke, Eastern Michigan and Temple — that, on paper at least, an experienced Navy team figures to handle.

Johnson's not interested in that kind of talk.

"I think if you ask those other schools, they'll say they schedule Navy for a win," Johnson says.

But, in reality, the days when Navy was an automatic "W" for anybody are gone.

"We're just trying to build," Caldwell says, "and get better every year."

***

Independents: What's new

Al Golden, a former assistant at Virginia, is the latest head coach at Temple, taking over for Bobby Wallace, who resigned. The Owls move next year to the Mid-American Conference. ... Army meets Air Force on a Friday night (Nov. 3) at West Point. The game is on ESPN2. ... Navy has won eight or more games in three consecutive seasons for the first time since 1906-08. The Midshipmen's 18 wins the last two years tie a school record. ... Notre Dame's preseason rankings (third in the USA TODAY Coaches' Poll, second in the Associated Press media poll) are its highest since 1994.

In the Coaches' Poll: No. 3 (tie) Notre Dame.

Bowl tie-ins: Notre Dame automatically qualifies for a Bowl Championship Series game if it finishes eighth or higher in the BCS final regular-season standings. The Irish also can take the spot of a Big East team in the Gator, Sun or the new Texas Bowl in Houston. Navy has a deal to go to the Meineke Car Care Bowl.

Navy head coach Paul Johnson gives his team a pep talk following practice. In Johnson's four years he has turned the team from a doormat to a team with a guaranteed bowl tie-in if they become bowl eligible.